Hi everyone. Im new to this, just need some advise, husband left me three weeks ago, for another woman. We have three children, two grown up and one at eight, he says he will pay mortage, and gave me £120.00 a week, I cant work, and im on capacity benifit, plus family allowance, is mediation worth going to, been to solicitors, waiting for my instuction, husband and girlfriend both living at sisters house, so he will need place of his own, any advise I would be grateful for.

Sorry, this is not a pleasant situation.

As regards mediation, I think most people would advise using it as an alternative to Court proceedings. It is usually rather less expensive, and if the parties can work out their own solution, as opposed to having it imposed on them, then they are more likely to remain on reasonable terms when it is all sorted out.

Whether you go to mediation or have your finances sorted out by the Courts, it is necessary that both of you make a full disclosure as your financial position.

As you rightly say, your husband needs somewhere to live, but the fact that you have a dependent child puts you in the driving seat as the Courts will give priority to the needs of the child ( and therefore the primary carer ) to have somewhere to live.

It is good that your husband has offered to pay the mortgage and to give you £120 p.w. but whether this offer is a fair one or not depends, I'm afraid, very much on the circumstances.

Mike

Thank you for your kind reply.